Japanese Film Competition (Short Length)
To a Hard Life ◊ wp◊
- Onsite
- 7.17 (Mon) 10:30 Convention Hall
- 7.21 (Fri) 17:00 Audio Visual Hall
- Online
- 7.22 (Sat) 10:00 - 7.26 (Wed) 23:00
Takeshi spends the day trolling others on social media to ease his frustration. One morning, he wakes up as a completely different, unknown person. Although he isn’t satisfied with his appearance, he thinks he is better than he used to be and goes out to meet girls....
©2023kurokishi film
Director: Kentaro NAGASATO
Cast: Ryosuke SHIRATSUCHI, Johnny TAKAYAMA, Noriko FUJIOKA, Chihiro, Hitomi HAMADA, Kentaro NAGASATO
2023 / Japan / 40min.
Complaints about life, complexes, envy, backbiting.... These are common emotions for everyone, and many stories, across all eras and cultures, have been created with them. The usual storyline, however, is not adopted for this film, which begins when an unappealing man is reborn as a different man, who is a bit less unappealing. Although the story evinces the filmmaker’s playfulness and ambition, it also illustrates the series of absurdities that is the very essence of human life. The characters played by Ryosuke Shiratsuchi and Johnny Takayama appear repulsive at first, but gradually become somewhat engaging. Actor, writer, director, filmmaker Kentaro Nagasato made this film with an iPhone, and also appears as a bartender. To a Hard Life will have its world premiere at the festival.
Director: Kentaro NAGASATO
Aspiring to be an actor, Nagasato moved to Tokyo from Kagoshima, making his stage debut in 2008. He has written and directed about 20 short plays, mostly comedies. In 2019, he wrote, directed and performed in his first full-length play. Besides working as actor for films, dramas and commercials, he has created several short smartphone films since 2020.
Message
I’m Kentaro Nagasato. I’m an actor. I also write for theatrical plays and films, focusing on never-before-seen settings, plots and storylines. I think the story of this film is also something you haven’t ever seen before. Films are free and there is no single correct way, so I will continue to create stories that have never been seen before.
